Ysgol Clywedog's exam results were amongst the worst in Wales

The county's exam results were the third worst in Wales compared with the other 21 local authorities.

Both MP Ian Lucas and AM John Marek called for action on school standards.

It has also been revealed that Ysgol Clywedog, one of Wrexham's new 'super' schools returned one of the lowest GCSE results of any school in Wales.

The chief executive of Wrexham Council, Isobel Garner, has said the authority has a "horrendous problem with educational attainment".

It's worth pointing out that the school had to physically move twice in the last academic year, which was hard on the children Jeanette Smith, Ysgol Clywedog's headteacher

The council has refused to name the school with the worst performance but statistics released by the Welsh Assembly Government revealed it was Ysgol Clywedog.

Just 26% of pupils at the school achieved five A*-C grades, in this year's GCSE exams, half the Welsh average of 52%.

However, the school's headteacher Jeanette Smith has defended the results.

"You need to look at the ability of the children. If you just take raw statistics that's not very informative," she said.

"You need to ask the Local Education Authority about the added value for the children.

"It's worth pointing out that the school had to physically move twice in the last academic year, which was hard on the children. We are expecting a considerable upturn in the figures," she added.

'Poor standards'

Ysgol Clywedog was opened after three schools - Bryn Offa, St David's and the Groves were merged to create two new schools.

The cost of the project was originally put at �12m, but that figure almost doubled to �22.5m.

Wrexham AM John Marek believes the reorganisation is to blame for the poor performance of some secondary schools, including Ysgol Clywedog.

"I knew this would be the inevitable result," he said.

"I'm appalled at the damage the former Labour council caused. I will work with the new Liberal Democrat led coalition to put things right.

"The schools now need a period of stability and extra money," he added.

Wrexham MP Ian Lucas said action must be taken to improve school standards.

"GCSE results in some Wrexham schools are simply not good enough. There has been a lack of ambition for our children and tolerance of poor standards in some secondary schools that is not acceptable," he said.

Councillors will receive a report in December outlining final data for the summer 2005 GCSE and A-level results.

Hywyn Williams, Wrexham's acting chief education officer, said: "We are confident that our work with headteachers and governors will show considerable improvement in pupils' achievement in their final years of schooling, matching the progress shown by younger pupils.